BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  ACR 168
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 4, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                  ACR 168 (Galgiani) - As Introduced:   May 24, 2010

          Policy Committee:                             Health Vote:19-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This resolution encourages the California Department of Health  
          Care Services to partner with private entities to improve  
          education regarding chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  
          (COPD). In addition, this bill designates November 2010 as  
          Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month. 

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          No direct fiscal impact to the Department of Health Care  
          Services. 

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . This bill is sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim  
            Pharmaceuticals, an international company headquartered in  
            Germany. The company markets several treatments for COPD  
            including Spiriva, Atrovent, Combinvent, and Duovent. 

           2)COPD  is the term for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and a range  
            of other respiratory disorders. It is a source of significant  
            health problems in the United States and throughout the world.  
            Many aspects of COPD are preventable and treatable. COPD is  
            diagnosed via lung function tests. Health management  
            strategies include smoking cessation, vaccinations,  
            rehabilitation, and inhaler use. Patients with severe symptoms  
            sometimes require long-term oxygen therapy or lung  
            transplantation.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081